Lagothrix cana (E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1812)

Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands & Don E. Wilson, 2013, Atelidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 3 Primates, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 484-549 : 546

21 .

Gray Woolly Monkey

Lagothrix cana

French: Lagotriche gris / German: Grauer Wollaffe / Spanish: Mono lanudo gris Other common names: Geoffroy's Woolly Monkey (cana), Peruvian Woolly Monkey (tschudii)

Taxonomy. Simia cana E. Geoffroy SaintHilaire, 1812 ,

Brazil. Restricted by |. Fooden in 1963 to the south bank of Rio Solimoes near the mouth of Rio Tefe.

A. Humboldt has been credited at times with the name ofthis species, but E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire is the rightful authority. Humboldt in 1812 (dated 1811 but actually published a year later) credited Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire for his 1812 publication in Tome 19 of Annales du Muséum d Histoire Naturelle, where this species’ name first appeared. Lagothrix cana was earlier considered a subspecies of L. lagothricha , along with the subspecies lugens and poeppigii . Because of clear phenotypic differences between the four, C. P. Groves in 2001 regarded them as separate species. The forms lagothricha and lugens are in fact not clearly different and not easy to distinguish (very variable), but poeppigii and cana do have a distinctive phenotype. So in this treatment, L. cana is considered a [phylogenetic] species, although new molecular evidence shows similar genetic markers for all taxa mentioned. A newly discovered population in Madidi National Park, northern Bolivia, may be a distinct taxon, or an isolated population of tschudii. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution. L. c. cana E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1812 — Brazilian Amazon, S of the Rio Amazonas-Solimoes, between the rios Jurua and Tapajos-Juruena, but restricted to the left bank of the Rio Madeira above the mouth of the Rio Jiparana (a right bank tributary), and to the right bank of the Rio Jiparana, S to ¢.12° S, and W along the N (left bank) of the Rio Abuna on the upper Rio Madeira. L. c. tschudii Pucheran, 1857 — SE Peru, its range is poorly known butis believed to extend between the rios Pachitea and Ucayali, S from the Rio Inuya, W as far as the Rio Inambari, and S to both sides of the Rio Madre de Dios into the Rio Tambopata Basin,to the frontier with Bolivia, with an isolated population in Madidi National Park.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 50-65 cm (males) and 45-58 cm (females), tail 62— 80 cm (males) and 53-72 cm (females); weight of males c.7 kg (but when dominant they become more robust and can weigh as much as 10 kg) and of females 5-7 kg. The Gray Woolly Monkey is generally grayer than Humboldt’s Woolly Monkey ( L. lagothricha ), with the pelage ticked all over on the upper side. Males are larger than females, with relatively shortertails, longer canines, and well-developed masseter muscles on either side of the head. Clitoris is as long as or longer than penis, and testicles of adult males are clearly evident. “Geoffroy’s Woolly Monkey” (L. ¢. cana ) is generally grayish-brown, with a contrastingly dark gray head. Hands, feet, and tail are a darker brown, and the underside is blackish-gray, often with a dark reddish tinge. Individuals from lowland areas tend to be pale fawn-gray with darker extremities. The “Peruvian Woolly Monkey” (L. c. tschudii) is very dark (deep blackish-gray) with a tinge of red. Head, limbs, and tail are black.

Habitat. Primary and some secondary lowland and highland rainforest in upland and flooded forests. The Gray Woolly Monkey prefers terra firma forest and uses the middle and upper forest canopy.

Food and Feeding. Gray Woolly Monkeys are principally frugivores. In the plant part of their diet, they eat ripe and unripe fruits, seeds and gums (80-7%), young leaves (14-4%), flowers (3-1%), petioles (17%), and mature leaves (0-1%). They also occasionally eat insects. At one Amazonian site, Gray Woolly Monkeys included more than 225 species of plants in their diets. Species of Moraceae , Sapotaceae , and Fabaceae accounted for 43% of their food species and 63% of their time spent feeding. Depending on food availability, groups sometimes split into feeding parties; they average 3-5 animals, but range from one to 22. Groups are more cohesive when fruit is more abundant.

Breeding. No specific information is available for this species, but aspects of breeding are no doubt very similar to those of Humboldt’s Woolly Monkey.

Activity patterns. No specific information is available for this species.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. One study recorded a home range of more than 935 ha for a group of 39-41 individuals (excluding dependent infants). The study lasted only eight months and the home range was undoubtedly larger, possibly 1200 ha. Larger groups have been seen, although it is possible that they are two groups traveling in tandem, something which has been documented for Humboldt’s Woolly Monkey.

Status and Conservation. CITES Appendix II. Classified as Endangered on The IUCN Red List, including Geoffroy’s Woolly Monkey. The Peruvian Woolly Monkey is classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. Gray Woolly Monkeys are intensively hunted, their meat is considered delicious, and their fat is used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. They are also frequently kept as pets, with the mothertypically being shot to obtain the infant. Geoffroy’s Woolly Monkey occurs in numerous protected areas in Brazil, including Amazonia and Pacaas Novos national parks. The Peruvian Woolly Monkey occurs in Manu National Park and Biosphere Reserve and possibly in Tambopata National Reserve, in Peru, and Madidi National Park in Bolivia.

Bibliography. Fooden (1963), Groves (2001), Haugaasen & Peres (2009), Iwanaga & Ferrari (2001), Peres (1993d, 1994a, 1994d, 1996b, 1997b), Peres & Palacios (2007), Ruiz-Garcia (2005), Ruiz-Garcia & Pinedo-Castro (2010), Wallace & Painter (1999).

Figures

On following pages 21 Gray Woo ly Monkey (Lagothnx cana) 22 Poeopıg s Woolly Monkey (Layothnx poøpplgll) 23 Pefuvıan Yellow taıled Woolly Monkey (Oreonıx Ilavıaıuda) 24 Southern Munquı (Brachyreles ııachnoıdes) 25 Nonhem Munqu (Brachyteles hypoxanthusl

Subspecies and Distribution. L. c. cana E. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1812 — Brazilian Amazon, S of the Rio Amazonas-Solimoes, between the rios Jurua and Tapajos-Juruena, but restricted to the left bank of the Rio Madeira above the mouth of the Rio Jiparana (a right bank tributary), and to the right bank of the Rio Jiparana, S to ¢.12° S, and W along the N (left bank) of the Rio Abuna on the upper Rio Madeira. L. c. tschudii Pucheran, 1857 — SE Peru , its range is poorly known butis believed to extend between the rios Pachitea and Ucayali, S from the Rio Inuya, W as far as the Rio Inambari, and S to both sides of the Rio Madre de Dios into the Rio Tambopata Basin,to the frontier with Bolivia , with an isolated population in Madidi National Park.